Dog training glossary
High-Value Reward
Quick answer
A reward strong enough to compete with whatever is distracting the dog in that moment.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
What counts as "high-value" depends entirely on the individual dog and the specific situation, real chicken or cheese might be necessary for a stressful vet visit, while a piece of regular kibble is plenty for calm practice at home. Matching reward value to the difficulty of the moment is one of the most common gaps in training that seems to "stop working" in tough situations.
A real example
A dog that eagerly works for kibble in the kitchen may completely ignore it at a busy park, where freeze-dried liver or hot dog becomes necessary to compete with the environment.
Common mistake
Using the same low-value treat everywhere, including high-distraction environments where it simply can't compete.
Related terms
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